Help ! Drowning in the variety !

[Prolifix]

Hey Guys

I am planning to set up a home theater system for myself. Am totally new to this and the array of brands/models/features are driving me nuts ! Would greatly appreciate some advice about the components to buy. Heres a set of features/requirements that I am looking at:
1)My room size is about 12X12 though this can change as I dont have a dedicated room.
2) Use is for movies as well as music.
3) Reciever should have HDMI switching, cross conversion and upconversion.
4) High res, multichannel PCM over HDMI support
5) Onboard DolbyTru HD and DTS HD decoders

I was thinking of a Pioneer VSX 819H K or Onkyo SRX507 reciever with Polk RM705 or Polk RM 6750 speakers. Which combination would you recommend? Being my first setup, dont really want to burn a hole in my pocket

Also I am using an external sound card on my laptop to connect to a set of Logitech speakers. I would like to connect my laptop to the reciever. (Like a media server, I guess). Is a USB to HDMI audio converter the best option for this? Is there any other better/cheaper way? Recievers with bluetooth will take only stereo streaming, right? And I guess, they will be in the higher price bracket.

Thanks in advance for your help !

Cheers

 

[MStrickland1988]

I would stay away from Pioneer stuff. Better options out there include Yamaha (I have one), Marantz (awesome products), Denon, Harmon Kardon and a good deal of people own Onkyo. Could do better than the Polks imho.

 

[Ares]

I would stay away from Pioneer stuff. Better options out there include Yamaha (I have one), Marantz (awesome products), Denon, Harmon Kardon and a good deal of people own Onkyo. Could do better than the Polks imho.

Why would you say stay away from Pioneer? To the OP Marantz,Denon,Yamaha and HK make some good products Here are the 3 I would look into if it were me.

1)Denon
2)Pioneer
3)Marantz

If you like Polk than I would suggest looking into some of their other lines. I would also suggest looking into Internet Direct companies as well like HSU,SVS,Ascend,Axiom,and Aperion.

 

[3db]

I would stay away from Pioneer stuff. Better options out there include Yamaha (I have one), Marantz (awesome products), Denon, Harmon Kardon and a good deal of people own Onkyo. Could do better than the Polks imho.

The midrange Yamahas that have been released in 2009 IHO are not worth their asking price based on their lightened power supplies and less capable power output than the previous model years. I would pick Pioneer over Yamaha in thier mid range category.

 

[Midwesthonky]

It's never easy to pick as there are many capable components out there. If you can, go listen to each of your top picks and play with them to see if you like the controls, the menus, etc. Then listen to them using a consistent set of speakers. That may cause you to change your mind. I did when I bought my last receiver. I just didn't care for how my preferred choice sounded so I changed and I am glad I did.

As for the speakers, do the same thing. Go listen to them if you can. I personnaly did not care for the set of Polk towers I listened to at BB. I wasn't shopping to buy, but to get an idea of if I would even enjoy them. It's my personal preference.

The ultimate choice is yours so I cannot offer an opinion other than to recommend you go and listen if you can. I drive the sales guys nuts because I will stand there and have them switch it back and forth, change the audio source and do it again and again and again. But I'm picky and if I am going to spend the money I want to make sure I am getting something I really want.

 

[Prolifix]

The pioneer x19 series seems to be getting good reviews. Is there anything specific that I should look out for ?

 

[Prolifix]

I would love to go and hear all the possible combos.. But the BB over here is not very helpful in terms of their variety or setup. :-(

I agree with you that the listening exp differs from person to person.. but was wondering if someone could give me a decent starting point in the ocean of AVRs and speaker ! ;-)

 

[Ares]

Do you have a budget? then we can go from there.

 

[Midwesthonky]

Yah...starting point...

Ares asks the first most important question!!

What is the budget? Big difference between $1,000 and $5,000 and <oh!> $10,000.

Do you want a 3.1, 5.1, 7.1 setup right away?
How many years do you want it to last before wanting to upgrade?
What devices will you route through it?

• Cable/Satelite box?
• DVD player? If yes, what type/model/capability?
• You mention your laptop...
• a DVR?

Are you willing to spend a bit more for good fronts and a center so you have a solid base for a 3.1 system and then upgrade to a 5.1 or more later when you have the money? Or want it all now?

Ok, I'll stop with the questions!

I personally lean more towards Yamaha and Pioneer for receivers of reasonable value. But then they have been good to me over the years. Others like Onkyo, Denon, Marantz. Set a target dollar figure, and then start comparing stats and you may lean toward several brands (at least narrow it down). Or another way to go is list what feature are most important to you. Then use that to narrow down the candidates.

Also, are you in a more rural location or are there any decent AV stores within a reasonable distance? (not BB as you mentioned their selection can be limited to what they can sell for the most margin in that market)

 

[bandphan]

I would love to go and hear all the possible combos.. But the BB over here is not very helpful in terms of their variety or setup. :-(

I agree with you that the listening exp differs from person to person.. but was wondering if someone could give me a decent starting point in the ocean of AVRs and speaker ! ;-)

Your listening test for AVRs is simple... Can it drive my speakers? Does it have the features I need? After that you listen to speakers All capable avrs dont have "sound", eqed they will sound different(and you wouldnt be able to tell in the store as the EQ is room specific) and thats about it.

 

[rnatalli]

I wouldn't touch a 2009 model Pioneer unless it were an Elite. The 1019 benched poorly so it's likely the 919 and 819 will be as bad or worst. I would go with the Denon 1610/590 or Onkyo 507 myself. The Denon uses MultEQ vs 2EQ which is why I'd go with it over the Onkyo.

 

[mtrycrafts]

..... but was wondering if someone could give me a decent starting point in the ocean of AVRs and speaker ! ;-)

I would firstly settle on speakers that you like; they are the most important part of a setup, along with the room which you have less control over other than acoustic treatments.
Once you have the speakers then the rest is just an issue of needs and component preferences that meets your flexibility needs, period.

 

[Ares]

What happen to the OP?

 

[JJMP50]

My 2 cents

As far as AV Receivers in the mid range, I think Yamaha, Pioneer, Onkyo and Denon are interchangable. I own 2 Yamahas and had an older Pioneer 514 (entry level) for the basement's small system (sold it on craigs list a while ago along with an Athena 5.1 system) and was happy with all three. A friend of mine has a Pioneer 1017 and its every bit as nice as my Yamaha (although it does not have a Phono in). I don't think you can go wrong with any of these. Just get the best deal and the buzzers and bells you want.

 

[Prolifix]

I wanted to buy
1) AVR
2) Atleast 5.1 speakers (compact)
I will be connecting
1) HD Cable box
2) DVD Player
3) Laptop
I am not looking for a high powered amp but would love to have
1) Video upconversion/upscaling
2) Onboard decoding for Dolby TruHD/DTS HD

I wanted to stick to the 500 - 600 range. Looks like I might be asking for too much in this range.
Denon 1610 is the only AVR I saw till now which can come within this range.

Any suggestions will be great !

 

[Prolifix]

And the Onkyo 507 doesnt seem to have upconversion or upscaling.

 

[Prolifix]

I wanted to buy
1) AVR
2) Atleast 5.1 speakers (compact)
I will be connecting
1) HD Cable box
2) DVD Player
3) Laptop
I am not looking for a high powered amp but would love to have
1) Video upconversion/upscaling to HDMI
2) Onboard decoding for Dolby TruHD/DTS HD
3) Audio/Video HDMI Switching

I wanted to stick to the 500 - 600 range. Looks like I might be asking for too much in this range.
Denon 1610 is the only AVR I saw till now which can come within this range.

Any suggestions will be great !

 

[Ares]

I wanted to buy
1) AVR
2) Atleast 5.1 speakers (compact)
I will be connecting
1) HD Cable box
2) DVD Player
3) Laptop
I am not looking for a high powered amp but would love to have
1) Video upconversion/upscaling to HDMI
2) Onboard decoding for Dolby TruHD/DTS HD
3) Audio/Video HDMI Switching

I wanted to stick to the 500 - 600 range. Looks like I might be asking for too much in this range.
Denon 1610 is the only AVR I saw till now which can come within this range.

Any suggestions will be great !

That's $500 to $600 for the receiver? if that's the case check out the Denon AVR 790

 

[H/Kthunder]

The midrange Yamahas that have been released in 2009 IHO are not worth their asking price based on their lightened power supplies and less capable power output than the previous model years. I would pick Pioneer over Yamaha in thier mid range category.

Totally agree. Pioneer makes very good receivers. Their Elite lines I believe are much better than higher priced Denons. Denons have a very bright sound similar to Yamahas.

 

[H/Kthunder]

I wouldn't touch a 2009 model Pioneer unless it were an Elite. The 1019 benched poorly so it's likely the 919 and 819 will be as bad or worst. I would go with the Denon 1610/590 or Onkyo 507 myself. The Denon uses MultEQ vs 2EQ which is why I'd go with it over the Onkyo.

Do you have a link? Please post.